The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-27
IRELAND.
Trouble in County Galway---A
Nationalist Meeting Broken
Up by Police.
Sir Welfred Blunt Thrown Off the
Speakers Stand and Bruised
---Great Excitement.

posted in Woodford, County Galway, yes
terday morning, summoning au indigna-
tion meeting under auspices of the Brit
ish Home Rule union. Sir Welfred Blunt,
the welI-known philanthropist and bene-
factor of Arab Pasha, who was formerly
conservative, but now home ruler, was
announced to preside, supported by Mr.
Rowland and other English members of
parliament. The meeting was pro-
claimed by the government and rein
forcements of police and troops arrived
in the morning and paraded the streets
Thousands of persons focksd into the
town. When the speakers mounted the
platform, Divisional Magistrate Byrne
forbade Blunt to hold the meeting.
Blunt replied the magistrate and police
were ordered to clear the platform. Sew
eral policemen seized Blunt, and although
he violently resisted, threw him off the
platform. Blunt returned to the platform
and was again thrown off, then, pale and
breathless, he shouted:
"Are you such id towards that you
dare not arrest me?"
The district inspector replied
~ arrest you"
Whereupon Blunt was seized and
marched off under escort, his wife follow
ing. The police charged upon the crowd
that followed and injured many persons.
Mr.. Rowland asked for three cheers for
Blunt, which we're given heartily. The
crowd was kept back by the fusi-
liers. Blunt was brought before
two magistrates, and, on refusing
to promise to refrain from participating
in meetings, he was retained in custody
unit and another prisoner were con-
veyed to Loughral jail in the evening.
During the row Constable Caronen re
fused to obey the order to charge the
crowd and threw down his baton. He was
arrested. The meetings were afterwards
held on the outside of the town, in which
the arrest of Blunt was announced.
This morning before the meeting, Blunt
protest against the governments action
in preventing the meeting. Later, In
spector Murphy visited Blunt and in
formed him that no meeting would be
allowed.
After the struggle on the platform,
Lady Blunt tainted and lay on the grass
unconscious for some time. Mrs. Row
lard and several reporters also suffered in
the scuffie.
Rev. Mr.. Pagan was arrested, but after
wards released. Mr.. Roche, poor law
guardian, was arrested for assaulting the
police. Lady Blunt clung to her hus-
bands arm and refused to leave him.
Blunt, when asked whether he would give
bail, replied that, as an Englishman, he
believed that the whole action of the
police was illegal, and that he would
rather be imprisoned than give pledge
to representatives of the tory govern
ment.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
DUBLIN, October 24.-The news of
the arrest of Sir Wilfred Blunt
created the greatest excitement in
this city. A feeling of intense gratifica'
tion prevails among the nationalists.
Mr.. Harrington last night expressed him
self that he did not believe Blunt would
he detained or prosecuted, and added it
will do him good, and ha should not won
der if we would hear more of it.
William O'Brien was paying visit to
Mr.. Dillon when the news of Blunt's ar
rest arrived. Both gentlemen expressed
great concern for the personal incon
venience to which Blunt would be sub
jected, but could not conceal their gratifi-
cation at the turn events had taken. The
interest was intensified when it became
known that the telegraph wires between
Partuma and Woodford had been cut, and
service was suspended for several hours.
The greatest activity prevailed at Dub
lin castle. Communications had been
constantly sent and received. Sir Welfred
Blunt's letter to Magistrate Byrne guar,
anteed moderate language on the part of
the speakers. He warned the magistrate
that he would hold him responsible if he
attacked an unarmed, orderly meeting.
Over thirty persons were more or less Sc
riously injured at Woodford. The feeling
against the police runs very high. 1t is
stated that, in many instances, they had
recourse to unnecessary brutality.
AN EDITOR IN LIMBO.
DUBLIN, October 25.-Mr. Walsh, editor
of the wexford People," who was SEN
fenced yesterday, to two months i'm mprison-
ment for publishing reports of meetings
of suppressed branches of the national
league, was condemned to-day to two
months Imprisonment at hard labor, on
another charge. Four summonses against
him were dismissed. Mr.. Dillon is ex-
pected to arrive at Cork this evening.
Trouble is feared.